Police investigating the murder of Sligo man Eugene Gillespie have said they received an anonymous tip off last Thursday about a man tied up in a house with a brown gate.
Last Friday evening, 67-year-old Eugene Gillespie was found by his brother and nephew lying unconscious in the hallway of his home, at Old Market Street in Sligo town, with his hands tied behind his back. His home was around 328 feet from the town's Garda station.
The former shopkeeper died on Saturday at Sligo General Hospital from injuries he sustained during an aggravated burglary.
Police have said they received a call on Thursday which prompted them to go a house with a brown gate in the town where they “satisfied themselves that there was nothing untoward.”
Police confirmed Gillespie’s home was not the one checked but refused to say if the house they checked was on the same street.
They are now attempting to identify the anonymous caller as part of their investigation.
A Garda spokesperson told the Sligo Champion: "This phone call is forming part of the Garda investigation into the death of Eugene Gillespie and gardai are liaising with phone companies in efforts to identify the caller."
According to the Irish Times, investigators hope that footprints and blood samples found at the scene will help track down the culprits.
In the wake of the attack, Fianna Fáil spokeswoman for older people Senator Mary White called for all elderly people to be given personal alarms.
2 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Babsy1989 | Sep 28, 2012, 06:54 AM EDT
I knew Eugene very well. As kids my parents would take us to his yard to select a Christmas tree each year, he had the patients of a saint. You failed to point out his achievements, he was a very fond and loved member of the Irish vintage car association, he was a valued retired employee of Telecom, he had a charitable heart giving what free time he had to the st Vincent de Paul, he was a good friend an honest hard working man, he never once said boo to anyone he never ever deserved this. I have this to say, the Gardi did NOT do enough, they went to market street when they got the 999 call, they went to the house next to Eugene's which had a brown gate, I'm sorry but i feel if you get a 999 call like that you MUST act upon it and leave no stone unturned , they didn't give a damn they were satisfied it was nothing.. they could of saved his life, instead their laziness cost him dearly he died a horrific and barbaric way no one deserved this and to be honest prison wont be good enough for his murderers here's hoping some else gets to them before the police and shows them what real punishment is. This is what happens when the government cuts policing, its ridiculous lift the freeze of recruitment and get some more men and women on the streets to help prevent this from happening to another poor soul. RIP you Eugene i will always remember you fondly especially around Christmas time, thank you for the memories you placed in my families care. dont worry the people of sligo wont allow your death to have been in vain.
mumbleyou | Sep 27, 2012, 02:50 PM EDT
Very sorry to hear about Mr Gillespie! A tragedy that is too often repeated in not just Ireland. Points of correction: With reference to the articles title, calling 911 in Ireland will get you nowhere. The number is 999. Also the plural of Garda is Gardaí - not police. I thought for a second that maybe Northern Irish Police were helping the Gardaí with the investigations.